# List of Northwestern Wildcats in the NFL draft

This is a list of Northwestern Wildcats football players in the NFL first round Draft.

## Key

| B | Back | K | Kicker | NT | Nose tackle |
| C | Center | LB | Linebacker | FB | Fullback |
| DB | Defensive back | P | Punter | HB | Halfback |
| DE | Defensive end | QB | Quarterback | WR | Wide receiver |
| DT | Defensive tackle | RB | Running back | G | Guard |
| E | End | T | Offensive tackle | TE | Tight end |

## Selections

| Year | Round | Pick | Overall | Player | Team | Position |
| 1936 | 4 | 2 | 29 | Paul Tangora | Boston Redskins | G |
| 1936 | 8 | 7 | 70 | Wally Cruice | Green Bay Packers | B |
| 1937 | 5 | 9 | 49 | Dewitt Gibson | Green Bay Packers | T |
| 1937 | 8 | 3 | 73 | Steve Reid | Brooklyn Dodgers | G |
| 1937 | 8 | 8 | 78 | Steve Toth | Chicago Bears | B |
| 1938 | 3 | 8 | 23 | Fred Vanzo | New York Giants | B |
| 1938 | 7 | 7 | 57 | Johnny Kovatch | Green Bay Packers | E |
| 1939 | 15 | 6 | 136 | Bob Voigts | Chicago Bears | T |
| 1940 | 3 | 5 | 20 | Johnny Haman | Cleveland Rams | C |
| 1940 | 11 | 4 | 94 | Nick Cutlich | Brooklyn Dodgers | T |
| 1940 | 11 | 9 | 99 | Don Guritz | Green Bay Packers | G |
| 1941 | 11 | 7 | 97 | Paul Heimenz | Green Bay Packers | C |
| 1941 | 14 | 3 | 123 | Joe Lokanc | Chicago Cardinals | G |
| 1941 | 18 | 8 | 168 | Ollie Hahnenstein | Chicago Bears | B |
| 1942 | 2 | 5 | 15 | Alf Bauman | Detroit Lions | T |
| 1942 | 14 | 6 | 126 | Bill DeCorrevont | Washington Redskins | B |
| 1942 | 17 | 2 | 152 | Don Clawson | Cleveland Rams | B |
| 1942 | 19 | 9 | 179 | George Benson | Green Bay Packers | B |
| 1943 | 9 | 10 | 80 | Bob Motl | Washington Redskins | E |
| 1943 | 16 | 4 | 144 | Nick Burke | Chicago Cardinals | G |
| 1943 | 28 | 8 | 268 | Bud Hasse | Green Bay Packers | E |
| 1944 | 1 | 4 | 4 | Otto Graham | Detroit Lions | QB |
| 1944 | 16 | 8 | 161 | Ed Hirsch | Chicago Bears | B |
| 1944 | 21 | 3 | 211 | Alex Kapter | Detroit Lions | G |
| 1944 | 21 | 7 | 215 | Bill Ivy | Washington Redskins | T |
| 1944 | 23 | 1 | 231 | Don Buffmire | Chicago Cardinals | B |
| 1944 | 26 | 8 | 271 | Harry Franck | Chicago Bears | B |
| 1944 | 29 | 1 | 297 | Vince DiFrancesca | Chicago Cardinals | T |
| 1945 | 8 | 10 | 75 | Nick Vodick | New York Giants | B |
| 1945 | 11 | 6 | 104 | Mack Creger | Washington Redskins | B |
| 1945 | 31 | 3 | 321 | Ben Schadler | Detroit Lions | B |
| 1946 | 8 | 8 | 68 | Jim Lecture | Philadelphia Eagles | G |
| 1946 | 17 | 5 | 155 | Ray Justak | New York Giants | G |
| 1946 | 24 | 1 | 221 | Jack McKenzie | Chicago Cardinals | B |
| 1946 | 24 | 7 | 227 | Bob Funderberg | Detroit Lions | B |
| 1946 | 30 | 4 | 284 | Harry Franck | Chicago Bears | B |
| 1947 | 1 | 10 | 10 | Vic Schwall | New York Giants | B |
| 1947 | 6 | 3 | 38 | Frank Aschenbrenner | Pittsburgh Steelers | B |
| 1947 | 7 | 7 | 52 | Dick Connors | Green Bay Packers | B |
| 1947 | 8 | 5 | 60 | George Maddock | Chicago Cardinals | T |
| 1947 | 11 | 6 | 91 | Alex Sarkisian | Philadelphia Eagles | C |
| 1947 | 26 | 10 | 245 | Max Morris | Chicago Bears | B |
| 1947 | 30 | 5 | 280 | Jerry Carle | Green Bay Packers | B |
| 1947 | 31 | 2 | 287 | Vince DiFrancesca | Pittsburgh Steelers | G |
| 1948 | 9 | 6 | 71 | Ken Wiltgen | New York Giants | E |
| 1949 | 12 | 4 | 115 | George Sundheim | New York Giants | B |
| 1950 | 3 | 4 | 31 | Art Murakowski | Detroit Lions | B |
| 1950 | 6 | 6 | 72 | Gaspar Perricone | Chicago Bears | B |
| 1950 | 12 | 6 | 150 | Ray Wietecha | New York Giants | C |
| 1950 | 15 | 4 | 187 | Tom Worthington | Detroit Lions | B |
| 1950 | 18 | 13 | 235 | Ed Tunnicliff | Philadelphia Eagles | B |
| 1950 | 19 | 8 | 243 | Loran Day | Chicago Cardinals | B |
| 1950 | 23 | 5 | 292 | Joe Zuravleff | Washington Redskins | E |
| 1950 | 28 | 13 | 365 | Don Burson | Philadelphia Eagles | B |
| 1951 | 3 | 4 | 30 | Don Stonesifer | Chicago Cardinals | E |
| 1951 | 14 | 12 | 171 | Rudy Cernoch | Cleveland Browns | T |
| 1951 | 16 | 4 | 187 | Gene Miller | Chicago Cardinals | B |
| 1951 | 25 | 10 | 301 | Johnny Miller | Chicago Bears | B |
| 1952 | 9 | 6 | 103 | Dick Alban | Washington Redskins | B |
| 1952 | 13 | 7 | 152 | Rich Athan | Chicago Bears | B |
| 1953 | 15 | 5 | 174 | Ralph Jecha | Chicago Bears | G |
| 1953 | 20 | 8 | 237 | Ray Huizinga | San Francisco 49ers | T |
| 1953 | 30 | 1 | 350 | Tom Roche | Baltimore Colts | T |
| 1953 | 30 | 8 | 357 | Chuck Hren | Philadelphia Eagles | B |
| 1954 | 22 | 4 | 257 | Joe Collier | New York Giants | E |
| 1954 | 30 | 7 | 356 | Don Rondou | Washington Redskins | B |
| 1955 | 13 | 7 | 152 | John Damore | New York Giants | C |
| 1956 | 28 | 1 | 326 | John Smith | Detroit Lions | G |
| 1956 | 29 | 4 | 341 | Jim Troglin | Chicago Cardinals | B |
| 1957 | 23 | 8 | 273 | Al Viola | Washington Redskins | G |
| 1957 | 30 | 5 | 354 | Bob McKiever | Cleveland Browns | B |
| 1958 | 27 | 4 | 317 | Ben Napolski | Chicago Bears | E |
| 1958 | 28 | 3 | 328 | Gene Gossage | Philadelphia Eagles | T |
| 1959 | 5 | 7 | 55 | Andy Cvercko | Green Bay Packers | C |
| 1959 | 8 | 2 | 86 | Wilmer Fowler | Philadelphia Eagles | B |
| 1960 | 1 | 9 | 9 | Ron Burton | Philadelphia Eagles | B |
| 1960 | 4 | 3 | 39 | Jim Andreotti | Detroit Lions | C |
| 1960 | 9 | 2 | 98 | Dewitt Hoopes | St. Louis Cardinals | T |
| 1961 | 2 | 4 | 18 | Elbert Kimbrough | Los Angeles Rams | E |
| 1961 | 6 | 5 | 75 | Larry Wood | Los Angeles Rams | B |
| 1961 | 6 | 13 | 83 | Dick Thornton | St. Louis Cardinals | QB |
| 1961 | 7 | 9 | 93 | Ray Purdin | San Francisco 49ers | B |
| 1961 | 7 | 14 | 98 | Irv Cross | Philadelphia Eagles | B |
| 1961 | 12 | 8 | 162 | Mike Stock | St. Louis Cardinals | B |
| 1961 | 20 | 7 | 273 | Elbert Kimbrough | Baltimore Colts | B |
| 1962 | 1 | 6 | 6 | Fate Echols | St. Louis Cardinals | T |
| 1962 | 8 | 12 | 110 | Larry Onesti | Chicago Bears | C |
| 1962 | 20 | 11 | 277 | Paul Flatley | Cleveland Browns | B |
| 1963 | 4 | 2 | 44 | Paul Flatley | Minnesota Vikings | E |
| 1963 | 5 | 7 | 63 | Jack Cverko | Green Bay Packers | G |
| 1963 | 7 | 13 | 97 | Burt Petkus | New York Giants | G |
| 1964 | 7 | 14 | 98 | Chuck Logan | Chicago Bears | E |
| 1964 | 14 | 13 | 195 | Tom O'Grady | Green Bay Packers | E |
| 1964 | 15 | 14 | 210 | George Burman | Chicago Bears | T |
| 1965 | 2 | 2 | 16 | Joe Cerne | San Francisco 49ers | C |
| 1965 | 4 | 4 | 46 | Tom Myers | Detroit Lions | QB |
| 1965 | 13 | 12 | 180 | Steve Murphy | St. Louis Cardinals | RB |
| 1965 | 18 | 3 | 241 | Mike Schwager | Chicago Bears | T |
| 1966 | 9 | 13 | 138 | Ron Rector | Green Bay Packers | RB |
| 1966 | 14 | 12 | 212 | Mike Buckner | Chicago Bears | DB |
| 1967 | 1 | 11 | 11 | Cas Banaszek | San Francisco 49ers | TE |
| 1967 | 3 | 23 | 76 | Phil Clark | Dallas Cowboys | DB |
| 1967 | 6 | 11 | 144 | John McCambridge | Detroit Lions | DE |
| 1967 | 7 | 26 | 185 | Bob McKelvey | New Orleans Saints | RB |
| 1967 | 8 | 10 | 195 | Roger Murphy | Chicago Bears | WR |
| 1967 | 10 | 5 | 242 | Woodrow Campbell | Houston Oilers | RB |
| 1967 | 17 | 7 | 426 | Ken Ramsey | Detroit Lions | DT |
| 1968 | 11 | 11 | 284 | Tom Garretson | Washington Redskins | DB |
| 1969 | 4 | 23 | 101 | Jack Rudnay | Kansas City Chiefs | C |
| 1969 | 17 | 7 | 423 | Chico Kurzawski | New Orleans Saints | DB |
| 1971 | 5 | 16 | 120 | Mike Adamle | Kansas City Chiefs | RB |
| 1971 | 8 | 16 | 198 | Rick Telander | Kansas City Chiefs | DB |
| 1971 | 11 | 14 | 274 | Mike Sikich | Cleveland Browns | G |
| 1971 | 12 | 1 | 287 | John Rodman | New England Patriots | T |
| 1972 | 7 | 6 | 162 | Eric Hutchinson | Houston Oilers | DB |
| 1972 | 9 | 19 | 227 | Jerry Brown | San Francisco 49ers | DB |
| 1973 | 3 | 13 | 65 | Jim Lash | Minnesota Vikings | WR |
| 1973 | 14 | 20 | 358 | James Anderson | Green Bay Packers | DT |
| 1974 | 3 | 12 | 64 | Steve Craig | Minnesota Vikings | TE |
| 1974 | 5 | 19 | 123 | Pete Wessel | Oakland Raiders | DB |
| 1974 | 7 | 24 | 180 | Mike Varty | Washington Redskins | LB |
| 1975 | 17 | 3 | 419 | Mitch Anderson | Atlanta Falcons | QB |
| 1976 | 12 | 23 | 342 | Darryl Brandford | Miami Dolphins | DT |
| 1977 | 5 | 5 | 117 | Randy Dean | New York Giants | QB |
| 1977 | 6 | 13 | 152 | Pete Shaw | San Diego Chargers | DB |
| 1977 | 7 | 7 | 174 | Greg Boykin | New Orleans Saints | RB |
| 1978 | 6 | 15 | 153 | Tony Ardizzone | Detroit Lions | G |
| 1980 | 12 | 25 | 330 | Norm Wells | Dallas Cowboys | DE |
| 1982 | 12 | 22 | 328 | Rob Taylor | Philadelphia Eagles | T |
| 1983 | 1 | 4 | 4 | Chris Hinton | Denver Broncos | T |
| 1984 | 2 | 5 | 33 | Mike Guendling | San Diego Chargers | LB |
| 1984 | 5 | 16 | 128 | John Kidd | Buffalo Bills | P |
| 1985 | 3 | 27 | 83 | Alex Moyer | Miami Dolphins | LB |
| 1985 | 9 | 2 | 226 | Steve Tasker | Houston Oilers | WR |
| 1985 | 9 | 14 | 238 | Keith Crusie | Cincinnati Bengals | DE |
| 1985 | 11 | 21 | 301 | Kevin Brown | Los Angeles Rams | DB |
| 1986 | 11 | 17 | 294 | Tom Flaherty | Cincinnati Bengals | LB |
| 1987 | 10 | 7 | 258 | Curtis Duncan | Houston Oilers | WR |
| 1989 | 7 | 1 | 168 | Kevin Peterson | Dallas Cowboys | LB |
| 1989 | 9 | 25 | 248 | Byron Sanders | Chicago Bears | RB |
| 1989 | 11 | 16 | 295 | Mike Baum | Seattle Seahawks | DE |
| 1991 | 12 | 4 | 310 | Bob Christian | Atlanta Falcons | RB |
| 1992 | 7 | 3 | 171 | Darryl Ashmore | Los Angeles Rams | T |
| 1994 | 3 | 21 | 86 | Steve Shine | Cincinnati Bengals | LB |
| 1994 | 6 | 26 | 187 | Lee Gissendaner | Houston Oilers | WR |
| 1995 | 2 | 1 | 33 | Matt O'Dwyer | New York Jets | G |
| 1995 | 5 | 1 | 135 | Michael Senters | Carolina Panthers | WR |
| 1997 | 4 | 9 | 105 | Darnell Autry | Chicago Bears | RB |
| 1997 | 6 | 1 | 164 | Tim Scharf | New York Jets | LB |
| 1997 | 7 | 2 | 203 | Hudhaifa Ismaeli | Miami Dolphins | DB |
| 1998 | 5 | 11 | 134 | Casey Dailey | New York Jets | LB |
| 1998 | 6 | 18 | 171 | Nathan Strikwerda | Miami Dolphins | C |
| 1999 | 2 | 4 | 35 | Barry Gardner | Philadelphia Eagles | LB |
| 1999 | 3 | 10 | 71 | D'Wayne Bates | Chicago Bears | WR |
| 1999 | 4 | 17 | 112 | Sean Bennett | New York Giants | RB |
| 2000 | 5 | 35 | 164 | Jay Tant | Arizona Cardinals | TE |
| 2001 | 7 | 10 | 210 | Harold Blackmon | Seattle Seahawks | DB |
| 2001 | 7 | 31 | 231 | Dwayne Missouri | Baltimore Ravens | DE |
| 2002 | 1 | 23 | 23 | Napoleon Harris | Oakland Raiders | LB |
| 2002 | 4 | 3 | 101 | Kevin Bentley | Cleveland Browns | LB |
| 2002 | 5 | 35 | 170 | Sam Simmons | Miami Dolphins | WR |
| 2003 | 4 | 36 | 133 | Austin King | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | C |
| 2005 | 1 | 28 | 28 | Luis Castillo | San Diego Chargers | DT |
| 2005 | 3 | 29 | 93 | Trai Essex | Pittsburgh Steelers | T |
| 2005 | 7 | 30 | 244 | Noah Herron | Pittsburgh Steelers | RB |
| 2006 | 4 | 27 | 124 | Barry Cofield | New York Giants | DT |
| 2006 | 7 | 2 | 210 | Zach Strief | New Orleans Saints | G |
| 2006 | 7 | 13 | 221 | Tim McGarigle | St. Louis Rams | LB |
| 2010 | 4 | 11 | 109 | Corey Wootton | Chicago Bears | DE |
| 2010 | 4 | 24 | 122 | Mike Kafka | Philadelphia Eagles | QB |
| 2010 | 5 | 13 | 144 | Sherrick McManis | Houston Texans | DB |
| 2012 | 7 | 26 | 233 | Drake Dunsmore | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | TE |
| 2012 | 7 | 28 | 235 | Jeremy Ebert | New England Patriots | WR |
| 2015 | 4 | 16 | 115 | Ibraheim Campbell | Cleveland Browns | DB |
| 2015 | 7 | 33 | 250 | Trevor Siemian | Denver Broncos | QB |
| 2016 | 4 | 39 | 137 | Dean Lowry | Green Bay Packers | DE |
| 2016 | 6 | 22 | 197 | Danny Vitale | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | FB |
| 2017 | 5 | 17 | 161 | Anthony Walker Jr. | Indianapolis Colts | LB |
| 2017 | 7 | 2 | 220 | Ifeadi Odenigbo | Minnesota Vikings | DE |
| 2018 | 7 | 33 | 251 | Justin Jackson | Los Angeles Chargers | RB |
| 2019 | 5 | 29 | 167 | Clayton Thorson | Philadelphia Eagles | QB |
| 2021 | 1 | 13 | 13 | Rashawn Slater | Los Angeles Chargers | T |
| 2021 | 1 | 26 | 26 | Greg Newsome II | Cleveland Browns | DB |
| 2021 | 5 | 30 | 174 | Earnest Brown IV | Los Angeles Rams | DE |
| 2023 | 1 | 11 | 11 | Peter Skoronski | Tennessee Titans | T |
| 2023 | 4 | 8 | 110 | Adetomiwa Adebawore | Indianapolis Colts | DE |
| 2023 | 5 | 7 | 142 | Cameron Mitchell | Cleveland Browns | DB |
| 2023 | 5 | 41 | 176 | Evan Hull | Indianapolis Colts | RB |

## Notable undrafted players

Note: No drafts held before 1920
| Debut Year | Player | Position | Debut Team | Notes |
| 1953 | Dick Flowers | QB | Green Bay Packers | — |
| 1960 | Doug Asad | TE | Oakland Raiders | — |
| 1960 | Mark Johnson | CB | Houston Oilers | — |
| 1960 | Fred Williamson | CB | Oakland Raiders | — |
| 1963 | Larry Benz | S | Cleveland Browns | — |
| 1965 | Tim Powell | DE | Los Angeles Rams | — |
| 1965 | Joe Szczecko | DT | Chicago Bears | — |
| 1966 | Dick Smith | DB | Kansas City Chiefs | - |
| 1969 | Angelo Loukas | G | Buffalo Bills | — |
| 1972 | Barry Pearson | WR | Pittsburgh Steelers | — |
| 1977 | Neil Little | DB | Chicago Bears | — |
| 1977 | Scott Yelvington | WR | Chicago Bears | — |
| 1982 | Mike Kerrigan | QB | New England Patriots | — |
| 1987 | Rich Borresen | TE | Dallas Cowboys | — |
| 1987 | Ted Karras | DT | Washington Redskins | — |
| 1987 | Mike Witteck | LB | New York Jets | — |
| 1991 | Richard Buchanan | WR | Miami Dolphins | — |
| 1992 | Eddie Sutter | LB | Minnesota Vikings | — |
| 1995 | Todd Baczek | G | New York Jets | — |
| 1998 | Paul Janus | T | Carolina Panthers | — |
| 1998 | Keith Lowzowski | FB | New York Jets | — |
| 1998 | Brian Musso | WR | New York Jets | — |
| 2001 | Javier Collins | DT | Dallas Cowboys | — |
| 2002 | Damien Anderson | RB | Arizona Cardinals | — |
| 2002 | Zak Kustok | QB | Miami Dolphins | — |
| 2002 | Mike Souza | C | Indianapolis Colts | — |
| 2003 | Jeff Roehl | T | New York Giants | — |
| 2004 | Jason Wright | RB | Atlanta Falcons | — |
| 2005 | Matt Ulrich | G | Indianapolis Colts | — |
| 2006 | Brett Basanez | QB | Carolina Panthers | — |
| 2007 | Marquice Cole | DB | Oakland Raiders | — |
| 2007 | Nick Roach | LB | Chicago Bears | — |
| 2009 | Eric Peterman | WR | Chicago Bears | — |
| 2009 | Tyrell Sutton | RB | Green Bay Packers | — |
| 2011 | Corbin Bryant | DE | Chicago Bears | — |
| 2013 | Brian Arnfelt | DE | Pittsburgh Steelers | — |
| 2017 | Austin Carr | WR | New England Patriots | — |
| 2018 | Garrett Dickerson | TE | New York Giants | — |
| 2018 | Godwin Igwebuike | RB | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | — |
| 2018 | Tyler Lancaster | DT | Green Bay Packers | — |
| 2019 | Blake Hance | G | Buffalo Bills | — |
| 2024 | Ben Bryant | QB | New York Jets | — |